84 NEW? YORK JZOOLOGICAL FSOCIE IY 
the construction of every foot of the concrete toundation work. 
In this he had at the last some assistance from the contractor’s 
engineer, but no assistance of any value from the city inspector 
placed on the work by the Park Department. 
This sub-contract for the concrete work was in several ways a 
valuable object lesson. It showed how the taxpayers of this 
city are liable to be robbed whenever a sub-contract falls into the 
hands of an ignorant or careless man, who is served by laborers 
that are utterly devoid of all sense of workman’s honor, and who 
strive early and late to “skin the job.” 
It is no exaggeration to say that, with the best intentions on 
the part of McHarg-Barton Company, and with excellent iron- 
work generally, it was only the constant, hourly presence of Mr. 
Beerbower on the work, practically with club in hand, that pre- 
vented the laborers on the concrete work and the setting of all 
posts, from turning in work looking fair on the outside, but 
utterly defective within. Matters finally reached such a pass that 
the McHarg-Barton Company furnished the services of an en- 
gineer to assist Mr. Beerbower in maintaining on both sides of 
the Elephant House the close surveillance that was necessary. 
DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS. 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Photographer and Asst. Editor. 
The publications issued in 1908 consisted of four regular num- 
bers of the BULLETIN, the Annual Report and Part II of the an- 
nual brochure of the National Collection of Heads and Horns. 
In photography 533 negatives were taken, and 4,071 prints 
were made. The index albums were brought up to a more per- 
fect state for ready reference, and the number of volumes was 
increased to twenty-three. A catalogue of the halftone plates be- 
longing to the Society was completed and brought down to date. 
A proof of each plate has been mounted in a serviceable scrap- 
book, with full data regarding its history. The Society is now 
in possession of 1,311 halftone plates, chiefly of animal subjects. 
Mr. Sanborn has devised a plant for the production of trans- 
parencies and enlargements, which is operated in one of the store- 
rooms. Satisfactory results are obtained by using the north light, 
which is reflected into the room by a large metal screen. 
The difficult problem of photographing live monkeys and 
baboons received the serious attention of our photographer, who 
designed a cage especially for his purposes, with which he has 
already secured some excellent results. 
